Finnair to fit 18 E195-E2s with SES multi-orbit Wi-Fi using OneWeb LEO

SES has signed an agreement with Finnair to equip 18 Embraer E195-E2 aircraft with multi-orbit in-flight connectivity, with the first connected aircraft expected to enter service in 2027. The deal pairs SES's geostationary (GEO) satellite capacity with low-earth orbit (LEO) capacity from its partner Eutelsat, operator of the OneWeb constellation.

The aircraft will be line-fitted at Embraer rather than retrofitted, meaning the connectivity hardware goes onto the jets during manufacturing rather than in a separate modification programme. Each aircraft will carry SES's electronically steered array (ESA) antenna, terminal hardware designed to switch between satellites in different orbits and maintain a connection as the plane moves.

For Finnair, Finland's flagship carrier, the agreement covers roughly a fifth of a typical regional fleet order of this size and represents its first step into multi-orbit connectivity on the E2 platform. For SES, it is another airline win for a network architecture the Luxembourg-based operator has been positioning as the answer to the latency and coverage constraints of GEO-only in-flight Wi-Fi.

What does multi-orbit actually change?

The technical argument is straightforward. GEO satellites, orbiting at roughly 36,000 kilometres, offer wide coverage but round-trip latency that makes real-time applications — video calls, gaming, live streaming — frustrating in the cabin. LEO constellations such as OneWeb, orbiting at a few hundred to around 1,200 kilometres, cut that latency dramatically and support the interactive applications passengers increasingly expect on board.

Neither layer alone is a complete answer: GEO brings sustained throughput and established coverage; LEO brings speed and responsiveness. The ESA antenna is the piece that lets one aircraft draw on both, which is why SES frames the combination as both a performance upgrade and a resilience measure.

The commercial framing from the vendors is predictably upbeat. Blane Boynton, Senior Vice President Aviation at SES, said: "SES's multi-orbit network delivers the reliability, performance and flexibility airlines need today while providing a clear path for future growth. This agreement is another testament to the growing confidence leading airlines are placing in our solution." Confidence is the operative word — SES did not disclose contract value, capacity commitments, or passenger pricing, and none of the parties detailed throughput figures for the service.

Simon Large, Chief Customer Officer at Finnair, was similarly qualitative: "Customer needs are at the heart of everything we do at Finnair, and connectivity is an increasingly important part of the overall travel experience. We are excited to partner with SES to bring a home-like broadband experience to our customers." What "home-like" means in megabits per passenger remains unstated.

The LEO supplier: Eutelsat's OneWeb

Thierry Polycarpe, Vice President for Aviation and Maritime at Eutelsat, stressed the role of OneWeb capacity in the deployment: "Finnair's selection is further evidence of the value OneWeb brings to inflight connectivity. Our high-speed, low-latency network supports the real-time applications passengers increasingly expect on board and complements GEO to deliver a more resilient inflight service."

He also pointed to OneWeb's market position, calling it "Europe's only operational LEO constellation" — a competitive claim aimed squarely at SpaceX's Starlink, which has signed its own airline deals and dominates the LEO category globally by satellite count and subscriber numbers. Eutelsat is positioning OneWeb as the European institutional and aviation-grade alternative, and airline contracts like Finnair's are part of that argument.

The 2027 entry-into-service date gives SES, Eutelsat and Embraer roughly a year-plus to deliver line-fit installations at production scale; whether the first aircraft lands on schedule, and at what performance level passengers actually see, will only be measurable once the fleet is flying.